Liquid metering and dispensing apparatus



Sept. 9, 1969 DE HARDE LIQUID METERING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11. 1966 05 Y T E MM M m m i T 5 w 5 E W wv B j Sept. 9, 1969 R. DE HARDE 3,465,915

LIQUID METERING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lm INZNTOR. 5.9 ROBERT .De fiR'DE 20 WZ 6- ///s ATT RNEY.

United States Patent 3,465,915 LIQUID METERING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Robert de Harde, 6331 Navajo Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60646 Filed Aug. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 571,746 Int. Cl. B67d /16, 5/22, 3/00 U.S. Cl. 22266 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A principal object of my invention is in the provision in an apparatus of this character of a means for automatically supplying a quantity of different liquids selectively to a remote dispenser in a predetermined volume, which means comprises a pump, a solenoid dispenser, a timing device, a counter, and electrical circuitry includ* ing push button selector switches.

A further object of my invention is in the provision of an apparatus of this character of a liquid-metering means which will accurately and consistently successively dispense a predetermined volume of selected liquids.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of embodiment of my complete apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid supply cabinet with the door open;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view of the dispensing solenoid and its relation to the dispensing tube;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a portion of the control panel;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pump and liquid supply container; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a circuit employed in my apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the dispensing apparatus according to the preferred construction, consists of a liquid supply cabinet 10 having a partial front wall door 11 permitting access to the interior of the cabinet '10, wherein there is a shelf 12 having openings 13 for the reception of the necks of the liquid supply bottles 14 which are projected into the sleeves 15 frictionally positioned within the openings 13 and which in turn provide open communication with a plurality of liquid supply containers 16, one of which is shown in FIG. 5.

The containers 16 are preferably formed of stainless steel or other durable, non-corrosive material and are each provided with a peripheral flange 17 which is positioned behind a lamination of a second shelf 18 positioned within the cabinet 10 and beneath the supporting shelf 12. The bottom wall of the containers 16, as shown in FIG. 5, has a conduit 19 connecting it to an electrical pump 20. The pump 20 may be of any available standard commercial construction, and such construction makes up no part of the present invention except for the inclusion in the apparatus of its operable features. The

3,465,915 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 "ice pump 20 by a bracket 21 is mounted on the bottom wall 22 of the cabinet 10 beneath the container 16, it being understood that a pump 20 is provided for each of the containers 16 in the cabinet 10.

Within each of the containers 16 is a float 23 having a stem 24 which projects through an opening in the shelf 18 for actuating a liquid level responsive control switch 25. Thus, when the supply of liquid in each of the containers 16 is exhausted, the floats 23 therein will cause the actuation of the liquid level responsive control switch 25 associated therewith, .to disrupt the electrical circuit to the pumps 20, rendering the same inoperative. As each container 16 has its associated liquid level responsive control switch 25, the actuation of each is only responsive to the liquid level in the container 1 6 with which it is associated.

Each of the pumps 20' provides a delivery conduit 26, all of which are contained in a connecting tube 27 which extends from the rear of the cabinet 10 up to the dispensing unit 28.

The dispensing unit 28 is carried beneath the portable bar top 29 which in turn is supported by suitable legs 30, as seen in FIG. 1. The dispensing unit 28 comprises a housing 31 having a hinged front panel 32 positioned beneath a front overhang 33 provided by the housing 31. Within the overhang 33 is contained a series of solenoidoperated dispensing valves 34. These dispensing valves 34 may be of any commercial construction, and such construction constitutes no part of the present invention other than the embodiment of their normal operative features in combination with the remaining components of this invention.

There is provided a solenoid dispensing valve 34 for each of the delivery conduits 26 associated with each of the pumps 20, as hereinbefore described. The dispensing valves 34 each include an outlet port 35 which extends through the bottom wall 36 of the overhang 33 as seen in FIG. 3.

The hinged front panel 32 of the dispensing unit 28 carries an electrically actuated counter 37 which includes a dial opening 38 formed in the exposed wall surface of the hinged front panel 32.

The counters 37 are electrically included in the electrical circuits for each of the dispensing units of the apparatus. The hinged front panel 32 also carries a switch unit 39 which includes a push button actuator 40 exposed through the front wall of the hinged panel 32, as seen in FIG. 1.

The inner wall 41 of the housing 31 which lies behind the hinged front panel 32, carries an electrical timing unit 42 which includes a dial face 43 and a dial position switch 44 for selectively determining the period of time for the energization of the electrical circuit for its associated dispensing unit. Also carried by the inner wall 41 is a relay coil 45, the function of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

When the containers 16 each contain a suificient amount of liquid therein to close the associated liquid level control switches 25 and the dispensing unit 28 is connected to a suitable electrical power source, the following operation is performed for achieving the dispensing of a metered amount of liquid.

Referring to FIG. 6, which is a suggested schematic circuitry of one dispensing unit which includes one of the containers 16, its associated liquid level control switch 25, a pump 20, a counter 37, a manually operated push button switch 39, a timer unit 42 including a relay coil 45, which timer unit is of the type that is motor-driven and equipped with a magnetically operated clutch. This timer unit 42, like the dispensing valve and counter, are standard commercial items and the specific construction thereof constitutes no part of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, a positive bus line 46 and a negative bus line 47 are illustrated, through which a suitable electrical current is introduced into the dispensing apparatus. By a conductor 48, one side of the timer unit 42 which includes an electrical motor 49 and a magnetically perated clutch 50, is connected to the negative bus line 47. The other side of the timer unit 42 is connected by a conductor 48' to the positive bus line 46 and includes the liquid level control switch 25 as well as the manually operated push button switch 39. By a suitable conduit 51, the relay coil 45 is connected to the conduits 48 and 48. By a conduit 52, a relay holding switch 53 is connected to the timer unit 42 and the conductor 48, bypassing the push button switch 39 and the liquid level control switch 25. The liquid level control switch 25 when open will energize an indicating light 54 which is positioned on the front wall of the hinged panel 32 to visually disclose that the container 16 associated with that dispensing unit is empty. By a conduit 55 the positive bus line 46 is connected to one side of a second relay control switch 56 which has its opposite side by a conduit 57 connected to the counter 37, and by a conduit 58 which includes a manually operated switch 59 is connected to one side of the pump 20 and the dispensing solenoid 34. The pump 20, dispensing solenoid 34, and counter 42 by a conduit 60 are connected to the negative bus line 47.

When the push button 39 is momentarily closed, the motor 49, control relay 45, and clutch 50 are instantly energized. The relay 45 will in turn close relay switches 53 and 56. The relay switch 53 is a part of the holding circuit including by-pass conduit 52 which will maintain the energization of the motor 49, relay 45, and clutch 50 after initial energization, notwithstanding the re-opening of the push button switch 39. The relay switch 56 will energize the pump 20, the dispensing solenoid 34, and the counter 37, effecting the dispensing of a quantity of liquid through the conduit 26 and delivery port 35, until the timer dial switch 44 is rotated by the motor 49 through the energization of the clutch 50 to its set position, at which time it will momentarily open the switch associated therewith, disrupting the circuit to the motor 49, the control relay 45, and the clutch 50. This action opens the control relay switches 53 and 56 and returns the electrical circuit and the apparatus to its original starting condition.

In the event that the operator desires to empty any of the supply vessels 16 so as to change the liquid therein or clean the same, all that is required is that the operator close switch 59, which through conduit 58 energizes the dispensing valve 34 and pump 20 so as to cause continuing actuation thereof until the container 16 is emptied.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have devised a dispensing apparatus which meters the exact amount of liquid to be dispensed through an energized time period of a control coil and timing device. A ratio between the timed energization of the circuitry and the amount of liquid to be dispensed can readily be ascertained and controlled by the setting of the timer dial switch 44 as hereinbefore described.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention.

as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for automatically metering and discharging successive uniform predetermined quantities of liquid from a supply comprising:

(a) a supply vessel for the liquid to be dispensed,

to be discharged therefrom,

(c) a solenoid valve adapted to be simultaneously energized and operated with said pump for permitting the discharge of the liquid from said dispenser,

(d) conduits providing open communication between said pump and said solenoid valve, and maintained filled by said pump for instant liquid discharge through said valve,

(e) an electrically operated manually adjustable timing means provided by said dispenser and operatively connected to said pump and said valve for regulating the period of energization and operation thereof,

tity of liquid from said dispenser,

liquid out of said supply vessel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner FREDERICK R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner U.S. c1. X.R.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim (b) an electric pump for moving said liquid from said supply vessel through said dispenser to a position (h) a starting and holding circuit control switch in said supply vessel for deenergizing said circuits and said timing means when the liquid in said vessel reaches a predetermined low level of volume, and

(i) an operating circuit including a manually operated switch for continuously energizing said pump and said valve independently of said timing means and said control switch so as to dispense all of said Crum 222333 X Mitchell et al. 222504 X Paley 222504 X Kontra et al. 222504 X Muller 222504 X Spinuzza 222504 X Arps et al. 22266 X 

